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Thread: Installing an attic access door

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    TX Hill Country
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    579

    Installing an attic access door

    I need to install an attic access door in my new 30'*32'*12' woodshop.what is the procedure for modifying the ceiling joust to accomodate a 24" wide door? Do I have to add any temporary support to cut the joust in the way? I plan on adding double 2x10 at both ends of the opening. For info, it is framed with a 7"x18" paralam beam in the center and 2x10's on 19" centers.
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    Last edited by Gilbert Vega; 07-13-2015 at 11:58 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Palatine, IL
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    You will have to support the joist(s) that will be cut. You can support them from above or below.

    Instructions for cutting and heading off the joists usually come with attic stair kits, (they did with the stairs I have installed in the past) since the "hole" is the same type of thing for an access door or stairs. You should be able to find something in the 'net using "attic stairs" in the search feature of your browser.

    As long as you are going to frame for an access door, I would size it to fit an attic stair kit. You don't have to install the stairs now, but as long as you are doing the framing work, you might as well size it so the stair installation is easy at some point in the future.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    TX Hill Country
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    Thanks for the tips. I think I will frame it for the largest attic ladder I can find.

  4. #4
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    Feb 2003
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    Leesville, SC
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    2,378
    Why 19" on center? Just curious.......
    Army Veteran 1968 - 1970
    I Support the Second Amendment of the US Constitution

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    N.E. Ohio
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    Given the 19" centers, I would go for the bigger ladder with a 30-1/2" wide rough opening. Plus the load rating would be around 350-lbs.

    Since the ceiling is open, use a joist hanger at the connections between the existing joists and transverse doubles.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Northern Michigan
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    Quote Originally Posted by Von Bickley View Post
    Why 19" on center? Just curious.......
    19 3/16" is another layout for plywood with one less joist/stud. common in modulars and down South.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    TX Hill Country
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    Good to know. I thought it was a strange spacing.

  8. #8
    I installed a wider access door for my attic some years back much like your situation with common joist ceiling that had to be reframed for stair box. Was well worth the effort. Check out Rainbow attic stairs, http://www.stairwayshop.com/Rainbow_...FQGUaQodHkED3A

    As to the support, it looks like you probably only need something to hold the loose end of the joist up, maybe just a temporary 2x4 across several joist with a few deck screws. That should keep things in place while you are making your cuts and framing the stair box. If I were framing this I'd probably double up the joist on each side of the stair box as well as the ends.

    David

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